Drug Legalization

If Mississippi for Cannabis can obtain 107,216 signatures by October, the legalization of marijuana would be placed on the 2016 ballot in Mississippi. The Mississippi for Cannabis registered the initiative with the Secretary of State as Initiative 48. If Initiative 48 reaches the ballot and is passed, it would amend the state constitution to regulate the drug like alcohol, the Governor would also be required to pardon all “persons convicted of nonviolent cannabis crimes,” and the first 3 years of tax revenues would be earmarked for education.

The following specific language would be added to the state constitution:

Miss. House voted 112-6 to pass House Bill 1231 earlier this week. Sen. Deborah Dawkins (D-Pass Christian) introduced medical marijuana bills in previous sessions. Sen. Josh Harkins (R-Flowood) introduced the current bill to amend the Controlled Substances law. A family in his district wants access to medical marijuana to reduce the seriousness of their epileptic child’s seizures.

The Senate passed a similar bill March 6th and, during the writing of this post, voted to push the House Bill to Gov. Bryant:

A pharmacist is all but required to understand the language of the bill but according to reports medicinal marijuana oil was added to the list of Schedule I Hallucinogenic Substances. The oil is believed to help with pain and sleep problems and prevent seizures but without the high.

The drug would be controlled by Miss. licensed physicians and could only be dispensed by the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.